After Cheon Ha-rang’s declaration.
“Do you understand?”
The atmosphere in the place was charged, enough to make everyone tense up.
It was no surprise they were on edge.
Every time they looked at Cheon Ha-rang, it felt like she might leap at the Demon King any moment, sword drawn.
Their faces were twisted in expressions that resembled seeing a hated enemy, an obstacle in their way.
Yet, despite that, they couldn’t move.
Their minds were in turmoil.
In a way, it was only natural.
To think that the one they believed to be their ally, the one who always had their backs, was now standing against Cheon Ha-rang?
What on Earth was happening?
Were they really going to fight?
Did they have a chance?
No, beyond just chance.
Could they even fight against her?
After all, they had all heard it.
The kind of past Cheon Ha-rang had lived.
The reason she opposed the Demon King.
This was not just about fighting her; it was a conflict of beliefs.
After 300 long years, Cheon Ha-rang, who had been struggling in the swamp of despair, had finally seen the light of salvation.
Yet the Demon King, putting forth the banner of justice, was trying to drag her back into that swamp.
This was not the end.
What was even more frightening was that they secretly hoped Cheon Ha-rang would not go back.
But paradoxically,
They also wished for her to find happiness now.
In short,
Both beliefs were understandable.
On top of that, they were completely unimportant as they stood watching the Demon King, whom they believed in, oppose Cheon Ha-rang, whom they had also believed in.
“Do we even have the right to stop her?”
In fact, if they looked closely, the reason why the Demon King and Cheon Ha-rang had come to face off was also incredibly difficult to understand.
After all, the Nameless had already been dealt with by Cheon Ha-rang, hadn’t he?
Yet, for some reason, the Demon King was trying to stop Cheon Ha-rang to guard against the Nameless?
Could it be that the Nameless was still alive?
No, that possibility had to be ruled out.
She had called the Nameless her enemy, and there was no way she would lie about having taken her revenge.
…Then why?
They looked at the Demon King by their side, hoping for an answer, but—
“…”
The Demon King only smiled and looked at Cheon Ha-rang.
She didn’t offer them any answers.
As if telling them to think for themselves.
And so, each time hesitation spilled into their minds, their grip on their weapons gradually weakened.
The swords they had raised to guard the Demon King, to fend off Cheon Ha-rang, lowered their heads.
Was it because they were ashamed they hadn’t realized this fact until now?
Or perhaps, because they felt sorry for opposing Cheon Ha-rang, even though they understood her situation?
They didn’t know.
“…”
As a heavy silence crept in for a while—
“Umm….”
Cheon Ha-rang shrugged nonchalantly.
“…Well, it isn’t today, so don’t worry.”
Saying this, she turned her back with a smile.
“…Huh?”
They could only dumbly ask again.
“What do you mean… Granny, we don’t have to go now?”
“…I mean, I’ve waited 300 years; a few days won’t hurt.”
Somehow, her back looked really small.
“And you all should organize your thoughts a bit, don’t you think?”
A tiny guilt blossomed on their hunched shoulders.
“Umm, I know this sudden news must be shocking… It feels a bit rude to act just for my sake.”
As Cheon Ha-rang trudged away, they began to feel disgusted at their own inability to say anything.
“Master, I’ll follow you.”
Nameless, too, seemed to be feeling off, as he said in a dark tone.
Cheon Ha-rang paused to look at him for a moment.
“Okay.”
Nodding lightly, she slowly walked on.
Very slowly.
Almost as if saying, if they were going to capture her, it had to happen now.
And it was only when Cheon Ha-rang and the Demon King had completely disappeared from view that they realized.
The night faded, and the sun rose in the morning.
*
Inside the rattling carriage.
“…What should we do?”
With a somewhat dazed expression, Elia asked Lucius, who was driving the carriage.
“…”
However, Lucius only chewed on his lips, unable to answer her.
Lucius also had a question he wanted to ask someone.
Another gloomy silence descended.
“Ugh! Seriously!”
And, unable to stand this atmosphere that was worse than death, Camilla ruffled her hair and angrily exclaimed.
“What are we going to do? Isn’t it obvious?”
“…Obvious?”
Elia, slightly taken aback by Camilla’s abrupt behavior, questioned back.
“Hey, you slowpokes.”
Camilla, feeling frustrated at Elia’s question, pounded her chest.
“Don’t run away from reality and listen up. We have three choices right now.”
Saying so, Camilla held up three fingers.
“First.”
Camilla folded her pinky, growling in a lower voice.
“Like you all with those dumb expressions… just like me. Accept reality and stand by.”
“…”
Lucius could only lower his head at Camilla’s words without a response.
‘…A dumb expression. Is that how I look?’
Lucius let out a self-deprecating smile, wiping his face.
Camilla was right.
He felt stupid, unable to do anything.
Even the punishment of the Nameless he had chased for a lifetime was dealt by Cheon Ha-rang on his behalf.
And she also prevented the revival of the Demon King.
Looking back,
He hadn’t done anything himself.
Even though he was a Hero chosen for this.
That meant he, who should be a beacon of hope, had lost hope.
Lucius bowed his head deeply, feeling like a sinner.
“Second.”
Then, Camilla folded her middle finger and added.
“Stand by the Demon King, whom you believed in… no, the Empire believes in, and block that granny, no matter what.”
Neither Lucius nor Elia could muster any response to Camilla’s words.
‘…To stop Harang.’
Staring blankly at her opened hands, Elia shook her head slightly.
She couldn’t do it.
She shouldn’t be saying something like this, but… compassion arose within her.
Moreover, hadn’t the Demon King also shown her this?
In the past, in a shabby room.
While investigating the sword Nameless had, she had caught a glimpse of Cheon Ha-rang’s past.
In that moment, she selfishly shed tears, and now to stop Harang…?
She could not do it.
Absolutely could not.
If it really came down to that.
If she had to turn away from the truth just because she was a Saint of the Church and had to believe blindly.
If she had to stop her.
Elia would give up being a Saint.
Think about it.
If a person only believed and did nothing, is that someone who can be called a true believer?
In Elia’s mind, that was a mere puppet.
Not a pure and truthful believer, but just a fool looking for miracles.
Hadn’t the Demon King said?
To think for themselves.
The Demon King only provided the circumstances, never the answers.
Recalling that, she lowered her head again.
‘…Why is this simple thought coming to me now?’
She was no different.
Even though she was the Saint, a representative of the Church, she had ultimately found no answers.
Just waited for a miracle.
Hoping to find answers through the Demon King, but—
He had never provided any.
And in the end, it was herself who chose silence.
She felt like a sinner.
Elia bowed her head deeply, feeling like she had become a sinner.
As this awkward silence lingered—
“The last, third option.”
Camilla folded her last finger, clenched her fist, and pounded her chest.
“…We make the Demon King’s wish come true.”
At the sound of armor clashing as her gloves hit it, Lucius and Elia looked up at Camilla.
“Harang’s wish…?”
“Then, who else would it be if not the Demon King?”
Camilla answered, as if it were obvious, in response to Elia’s questioning look.
“…Are we really saying we should oppose the Empire now?”
Lucius retorted sharply.
But Lucius’ expression was now more lively than ever.
“Why would we?”
In response to his question, Camilla shrugged her shoulders slightly.
“Is there a need to oppose the Empire?”
“…What do you mean?”
Camilla smiled as she looked at Lucius, who tilted his head in confusion.
“Think about it. Why does that useless Demon King try to stop the granny?”
“…That’s—”
Because of the Nameless.
The Demon King was concerned he might lead the world to ruin again and was trying to stop Cheon Ha-rang, making her a shield to protect the world.
“That’s right. As expected from a useless Demon King, reaching such a foolish conclusion.”
“Camilla… still, you shouldn’t say that…”
At Camilla’s truly blasphemous words, Elia tried to intervene, but—
“Wait a moment…”
Lucius stopped driving and stood up to look at Camilla.
“…What do you mean by that?”
To which Camilla flashed a smile.
“Right. If the useless Nameless is the problem…”
“Then we just have to make sure he can’t step out of line, even if it means not having the Demon King around.”
“Now, instead of believing blindly like stupid fools, let’s offer our faith.”
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